Background: The daily cleaning routine of the silicone maxillofacial prostheses by the patient may cause some alteration in the materials properties. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of different disinfection procedures on some properties of silicon dioxide reinforced Cosmesil M511 HTV maxillofacial silicone. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixty (160) specimens were prepared by mixing 5% SiO2 nano particles and 0.5% intrinsic cream color into the silicone polymer according to manufacturer's instructions. Specimens were divided into 4 groups according to the performed test (tear strength, surface hardness, surface roughness and color) with 40 specimens each. Each group was further subdivided according to the disinfection procedure conducted (control, microwave exposure, neutral soap and 4% chlorhexidine gluconate). Measurements for tear strength were done using universal testing machine. Surface hardness test was carried out with a Shore A Durometer. Surface roughness was analyzed with a portable digital Profilometer. Color change was established with a Spectrophotometer. After the initial testing, all specimens were submitted to disinfection procedure 3 times a week for 60 days. Measurements were repeated and data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Fisher's LSD or Games-Howell test. Results: Spectrophotometer results showed non-significant decrease in the light absorbance of all experimental groups after disinfection, indicating a strong integration between the nano filler and the polymeric chains, which was not broken during the disinfection procedure. Highly-significant increase in Shore A hardness was recorded, while the decrease in surface roughness was highly significant in all experimental groups. Tear strength reduced significantly after disinfection in all experimental groups. Conclusion: Disinfection seemed to cause different amount of alteration in all of the tested properties of silicone. High color stability is expected in this type of maxillofacial silicone after disinfection.Although microwave exposure had increased the hardness of the material, it is considered a satisfactory disinfection procedure since it caused the least effect on the tear strength and surface roughness of the material. Therefore, microwave exposure is recommended for the disinfection of maxillofacial silicone prostheses.
We have investigated the impact of laser pulse wavelength on the quantity of ablated materials. Specifically, this study investigated the structural, optical, and morphological characteristics of tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanoparticles (NPs) that were synthesized using the technique of pulsed-laser ablation of a tungsten plate. A DD drop of water was used as the ablation environment at a fixed fluence at 76.43 J/cm2 and pulse number was 400 pulses of the laser. The first and second harmonic generation ablations were carried out, corresponding to wavelengths of 1064 and 532 nm, respectively. The Q-switched Nd: YAG laser operates at a repetition rate of 1 Hz and has a pulse width of roughly 15 ns. These parameters are applicable to both wavelen
... Show MoreThe purpose of this paper is to apply styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) as virgin alongside expanded polystyrene (EPS) resin as a recycled polymer after consumption in the presence of bagasse fibers (BF) as biomass source derived from sugarcane in different concentrations to reinforce this polymeric matrix to form affordable composites that can be used in manufacturing low-cost and sustainable car interior-trim constituents.
SBR and EPS represent an example for thermoplastic elastomers (
Numerical study is adapted to combine between piezoelectric fan as a turbulent air flow generator and perforated finned heat sinks. A single piezoelectric fan with different tip amplitudes placed eccentrically at the duct entrance. The problem of solid and perforated finned heat sinks is solved and analyzed numerically by using Ansys 17.2 fluent, and solving three dimensional energy and Navier–Stokes equations that set with RNG based k−ε scalable wall function turbulent model. Finite volume algorithm is used to solve both phases of solid and fluid. Calculations are done for three values of piezoelectric fan amplitudes 25 mm, 30 mm, and 40 mm, respectively. Results of this numerical study are compared with previous b
... Show MoreBackground: Bone mineral density (BMD) has been assessed using Dual-Energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This procedure is considered to be of vital importance in assessing the general condition of individuals concerning their skeletal mineralization. BMD is measured according to the results of the DEXA examination of the vertebral column and pelvis. Although diabetes mellitus (D.M.)is known to affect BMD, the information regarding this relationship is not currently particularly clear. Objective: This study concentrates on the point that the assessment of BMD for the vertebral column is insuffi-cient to give a realistic and correct picture of the mineralization of the remaining part of the skeleton. Besides, this study elicited a gen
... Show MoreThermal energy storage is an important component in energy units to decrease the gap between energy supply and demand. Free convection and the locations of the tubes carrying the heat-transfer fluid (HTF) have a significant influence on both the energy discharging potential and the buoyancy effect during the solidification mode. In the present study, the impact of the tube position was examined during the discharging process. Liquid-fraction evolution and energy removal rate with thermo-fluid contour profiles were used to examine the performance of the unit. Heat exchanger tubes are proposed with different numbers and positions in the unit for various cases including uniform and non-uniform tubes distribution. The results show that
... Show MoreThe present work involved a study the effect of cobalt(II) complex with formula [CoL(H2O)NO3] .4ETOH where L=Nitro [5-(P-nitro phenyl) -4-phenyl-1,2,4 traizole-3-dithiocarbamato hydrazide] aqua. (4) Ethanol and anti-cancer drug - cyclophosphamide on specific activity of two liver enzymes (GPT,ALP) by utilizing an in vivo system in female mice. On the enzymatic level an inhibition in the activity of GPT was noticed in different body organs such as liver, kidney and lung. The inhibition was noticed in both test and cyclophosphamide drug (cp). Mice were treated with three doses of cyclophosphamide (90,180, 250) ?g/ mouse for three days. The same doses were used for the cobalt (II) complex. The liver shows the highest rate of(GPT) inhibition co
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